Demas s



UNITED STATES PATENT GFF ACE.

DEMAS S. BARNES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FURNITURE- CASTER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,607, dated July 5, 1859.

To all whom i may concern:

Be it known that I, DEMAS S. BARNES, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Caster; and I declare the following to be a true and full description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings ,and to the letters and figures marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in constructing the ball of the castel' to run on an axle supported by a frame Work covering` but not touching, the top of the ball and Which frame Work is to rest against the bottom of the object to be supported at a single point to facilitate the horizontal rotation of the frame Work and ball-the Whole (except a` small portion of the bottom of the ball) being inclosed on a conical or cylindrical case, as hereinafter described.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I proceed to describe its 'construction and operation.

I make a hollow tube (conical or c vlindrical) A. (Fig. l) large enough to tit the leg of the chair. or other object to which the caster is to be attached. and on the inside of the lower end` I turn a small rim or flange to prevent the rolling parts from dropping out. This tube or socket, instead of going over the bottom of the leg, may by a ange, be screwed or otherwise fastened against the under end of the leg. Inside of this tube I place the rolling parts (shown in Figs. 2 and 3,) consisting of a ball B, (Figs. 1 9. and 3) traversed through the center by an axle D, (Figs. 1 2 and 3). On the ends of this axle is a framework (l, C', (Figs. and l) having its top part. slightly convex (as shown in Fig. 2) or extending upward in a prolongation more or less sharp, (as shown in Figs, 3 and 4). In Fig. 2, this convex surface on the top of the frame Work touchesl and rests against another convex surface. attached to or forming part of the leg` of the object to be supported. These two convex surfaces having but a small point of contact will enable the frame work, and the rolling ball connected with it, readily to turn on a vertical axis so that the ball or Wheel of the caster, may revolve in the required direct-ion.

In Figs. 3 and t, the apex or upper prolongation on the frame Work lets into a cavity or hole in the bottom of the leg of the object to be supported. This cavity is shown in the piece E, (Fig. 3). By thisl arrangement also, the caster can readily l l i i l l l l i turn about so as to roll in the proper direction.

In all these diierent forms of the caster if the object under which it is placed be moved in a direction at right angles with the axle of the ball, the latter Will readily revolve; and if the object be moved in any other direction, the rubbing of the ball Aon the Hoor, will immediately tend to turn it on its vertical axis, so as to bring its axle at right angles to the line of mot-ion and so relieve it of friction. If the motion should be directly in the line of the axle the ball Would not turn on its vertical axis, but its spherical form in the meantime would prevent it from scratching, tearing or marring the carpet or floor; and the slightest deviation from this course, Will tend immediately to swing the Whole around so as to place the rolling part in its proper position.

This construction of caster is cheap, durable, ornamental and strong. The rolling part swings around to t-he proper position, With suflicient facility, and its spherical shape prevents it from tearing or marring Whatever it rolls or rests upon.

This caster can be used on all articles of furniture, or other objects to be moved about.

I do not claim separately and uncombined the use of a spherical roller as herein described, nor doI in this application claim the use of friction Wheels on the ends of the axle, with a ring above, and a flange below them, to facilitate the horizontal rotation of the ball as shown in Figs. 5, 7 and S, Qf the original drawings accompanying this application inasmuch as I propose to make a separate application for Letters Patent for the devices therein shown. But

That I do claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

The spherical roller B, with its axle, running in the frame Work C, C, (Figs. 2 and 3) in combination With the tivo convex surfaces E, and F, (Fig. 2) or With the convex and concave surfaces E, and F, (Fig. 3) so as to enable the same readily to revolve on a vertical axis, the Whole being constructed, coinbined and inclosed in the tube or ease A, substantially as herein described and for the purposes herein set forth.

DEMAS S. BARNES.

Witnesses IVM. H. BALLANTYNE, GEORGE B. CLARKE. 

